Talking To a Therapist Versus a Friend

One may ask what is the difference between talking with a friend or talking with a therapist. Here are 3 reasons: 

1) Neutrality

Your therapist is assessing, diagnosing and creating a treatment plan solely with the information you bring to session. They are not partial to anyone in your story, like a good friend would be. The therapist has the ability to view your life ailments/contentions through the gift of neutrality. 

2) Confidentiality 

By law, your therapist cannot breached your confidentiality agreement. Your information is considered privilege and you as the client always hold that privilege. A friend on the other hand is not held by any legal standards to keep your information safe and confidential. The nature of confidentiality supports the therapeutic process, as we tend to feel safer to be more truthful when we know the information is protected. (Note: The only times where confidentiality can be breached without permission is whenever there is an intent to self-harm or intent to harm.)

3) Professionality 

Therapists, psychologists, mental health counselors are individuals who dedicated years of higher education and continued commitment to the study of human behavior, the psyche and the use of effective treatment models. A good conversation with a friend may leave us feeling encouraged, heard and loved. But therapy work, goes deeper, digs out the root and builds a longer-lasting change.

Fresh Living Counseling is currently open to new clients. We offer individual, couple or family therapy via telehealth. 

To schedule a consult, please click here or call 561-819-2562. 

Life is hard, your journey to healing doesn’t have to be.